Patent Application
20250000278
The present disclosure is directed to refrigerated display case systems and, more particularly, refrigerated display case systems that include a refrigerated display case and a closed-circuit vapor compression cycle refrigeration system coupled to the refrigerated display case.
Refrigerated display case systems, such as those that are used to store and keep certain perishable items (e.g., food, drinks) refrigerated or frozen, are often delivered and installed in self-contained units. Each self-contained refrigeration unit can include a display case to store the refrigerated items and a refrigeration system that operates to keep the items refrigerated or frozen. In some scenarios, the self-contained refrigeration unit needs to be moved through doorways or other openings that are limited in height or clearance.
In an example implementation, a refrigerated display case system includes a display case that defines an inner volume configured to store one or more perishable items; and a closed-circuit refrigeration system. The closed-circuit refrigeration system includes a condensing unit configured to sit on a top surface of the display case and including at least one compressor and at least one condenser assembly; a cooling assembly that includes at least one cooling coil and at least one fan configured to circulate an airflow from the inner volume through the at least one cooling coil to cool the airflow with a liquid phase of a refrigerant supplied from the condensing unit; a liquid line coupled to an inlet of the at least one cooling coil and to the condensing unit; and a rigid suction line coupled to an outlet of the at least one cooling coil and to the condensing unit. The rigid suction line includes at least two bends between the outlet and the condensing unit and is configured to circulate a vapor phase of the refrigerant from the at least one cooling coil to the condensing unit. The at least one fan is further configured to circulate the cooled airflow to the inner volume to adjust or maintain a temperature of the inner volume. The liquid line is configured to circulate the liquid phase of the refrigerant from the condensing unit to the at least one cooling coil.
In an aspect combinable with the example implementation, the rigid suction line is copper.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the refrigerant is R290.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects further includes a critical charge of the R290.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the critical charge of the R290 is between 100 and 300 grams.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the display case has a height of less than 80 inches.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the condensing unit has a height of between about 11 and 18 inches.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least two bends include a first bend in a first plane of a first radius; and a second bend in the first plane of a second radius different than the first radius.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the first radius is between 3 and 6 inches, and the second radius is between 10 and 12 inches.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the liquid line includes a capillary tube.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects further includes a shelf configured to couple to the display case and support the condensing unit while the rigid suction line is coupled to the outlet of the at least one cooling coil and to the condensing unit.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the shelf is configured to support the condensing unit at a distance below the top surface of the display case.
In another example implementation, a method includes identifying a refrigerated display case system that includes a display case that defines an inner volume; and a closed-circuit refrigeration system. The closed-circuit refrigeration system includes a condensing unit supported on a top surface of the display case and including at least one compressor and at least one condenser assembly; a cooling assembly that includes at least one cooling coil and at least one fan configured to circulate an airflow from the inner volume through the at least one cooling coil to cool the airflow with a liquid phase of a refrigerant supplied from the condensing unit, where the at least one fan is further configured to circulate the cooled airflow to the inner volume to adjust or maintain a temperature of the inner volume; a liquid line coupled to an inlet of the at least one cooling coil and to the condensing unit, where the liquid line is configured to circulate the liquid phase of the refrigerant from the condensing unit to the at least one cooling coil; and a rigid suction line coupled to an outlet of the at least one cooling coil and to the condensing unit, where the rigid suction line includes at least two bends between the outlet and the condensing unit and configured to circulate a vapor phase of the refrigerant from the at least one cooling coil to the condensing unit. The method includes moving the condensing unit from the top surface of the display case to a location at or below the top surface, the moving including bending the at least two bends without disconnecting the rigid suction line from the at least one cooling coil or the condensing unit.
In an aspect combinable with the example implementation, moving the condensing unit includes moving the condensing unit to a shelf coupled to the display case so that the condensing unit is a distance below the top surface of the display case.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects further includes, subsequent to moving the condensing unit from the top surface of the display case to the location at or below the top surface, moving the refrigerated display case system through an opening.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the opening has a dimension greater than a dimension of the display case and less than a sum of the dimension of the display case and a dimension of the condensing unit.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the dimension of the display case is less than 80 inches, and the dimension of the condensing unit is between about 11 and 18 inches.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects further includes, subsequent to moving the refrigerated display case system through the opening, moving the condensing unit from the location at or below the top surface back to the top surface of the display case.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, moving the condensing unit from the location at or below the top surface back to the top surface of the display case includes bending the at least two bends without disconnecting the rigid suction line from the at least one cooling coil or the condensing unit.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects further includes, subsequent to moving the condensing unit from the location at or below the top surface back to the top surface of the display case, operating the closed-circuit refrigeration system to maintain the temperature of the inner volume.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the rigid suction line is copper.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the refrigerant is 290.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the closed-circuit refrigeration system includes a critical charge of the R290.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the critical charge of the R290 is between 100 and 300 grams.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least two bends include a first bend in a first plane of a first radius; and a second bend in the first plane of a second radius different than the first radius.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the first radius is between 3 and 6 inches, and the second radius is between 10 and 12 inches.
Implementations according to the present disclosure may include one or more of the following features. For example, implementations of a refrigerated display case system according to the present disclosure can provide for movement of the refrigerated display case system that includes a critically charged condensing unit through a restricted opening while keeping suction and liquid lines connected within a closed-circuit refrigeration system and without kinking by moving the condensing unit from a top of the case to another location. As another example, implementations of a refrigerated display case system according to the present disclosure can pass through an 80 inch door frame without disassembly by shifting the condensing unit from the top of the case to the other location. As another example, implementations of a refrigerated display case system according to the present disclosure can be shipped and arrive pre-charged (with refrigerant), with a closed-circuit refrigeration cycle being fully connected. Thus, implementations of a refrigerated display case system according to the present disclosure can simplify an installation process compared to refrigerated display case systems that use quick connects, thereby providing a decrease in installation time to benefit an end user of the system.
The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for refrigerated display cases, including refrigerated display case systems that include a refrigerated display case and a closed-circuit refrigeration system that operates to maintain a temperature of the display case to store perishable items therein. Example implementations of a refrigerated display case system include a moveable condensing unit that, during regular or normal operation of the refrigeration system, sits on top of the display case. However, during movement of the display case, such as through a size-restricted opening such as a door that is only minimally larger than the display case, the condensing unit is movable to a location below the top of the display case without being disconnected, e.g., with the suction and liquid lines being connected to a cooling assembly of the refrigeration system.
In some aspects, example implementations of refrigerated display case systems according to the present disclosure utilize propane (i.e., R290) as the refrigerant in the closed-circuit refrigeration system. In some aspects, such as due to the flammability of propane, a total amount (e.g., in grams) of propane within the closed-circuit refrigeration system cannot exceed a particular amount. For example, depending on the size of the display case, the total amount can be limited to 150 grams of propane refrigerant charge. Other examples of refrigerated display case system 100 can include a charge of less than 300 grams of R290 (e.g., for some closed display cases) or less than 500 grams or R290 (e.g., for some open display cases). However, should the closed-circuit refrigeration system have less than the maximum charge, such as due to leaks in the suction and/or liquid lines, then the cooling efficiency and performance of the system can degrade. Other refrigerants, such as carbon dioxide, HFCs, blends such as A2L refrigerants, can also be used in the closed-circuit refrigeration system of the refrigerated display case system 100.
Thus, in some aspects, the system may perform best with a critical charge of propane (or other type of) refrigerant, with the critical charge being an amount of refrigerant that does not exceed a maximum amount, but which is sufficient to allow the closed-circuit refrigerant system to meet its published or nominal cooling performance standards. In some aspects, utilizing a rigid suction line, such as copper tubing with brazed connections (or other hard tubing such as aluminum), can help eliminate refrigerant leaks in the closed-circuit refrigeration system.
In this example, optional wheels 110 are coupled to the display case 102 and are part of the display case 102 to allow movement of the refrigerated display case system 100 along a support surface 101, such as a floor. In other examples, however, the wheels 110 may be removed or optional and the display case 102 can rest on the support surface 101.
In the example implementation of
Condensing unit 300, in this example, includes a housing 301 that encloses at least one compressor 302 with a suction 304 and a discharge 305. Suction 304 is connected (e.g., brazed or otherwise) to a rigid suction line 306 (described in more detail herein). Turning briefly to
An expansion valve 318 (which can be positioned in the cooling assembly 200) is fluidly coupled to the condenser coil 316 to receive the liquid refrigerant (at a high pressure) and expand the refrigerant liquid to a low pressure (colder) refrigerant liquid that is supplied to the cooling assembly 200 through liquid line 210. Expansion valve 318 can be, for example, a thermal expansion valve. In some aspects when the liquid line 210 is a capillary tube, the capillary tube can act as the metering/expansion device in the closed-circuit refrigeration system, thereby removing the expansion valve 218.
Turning now to
As shown in
In some aspects, another portion of the rigid suction line 306 extends toward the condensing unit 300 from the aperture 312 external to the display case 102 (e.g., along the back panel 103). As shown in
In example implementations, a shelf 400 can be installed (e.g., hung) on the display case 100 to provide a location to support the condensing unit 300 during movement of the refrigerated display case system 100. As shown in this example, when supported on the shelf 400, the condensing unit 300 can be a distance, d, lower (or even with) the top surface 107 of the display case 100. The distance, d, can be, for example, 0 inches or greater; thus, the condensing unit 300 can be even with or lower than the top surface 107 while on the shelf 400. In some aspects, the condensing unit 300 could be higher than the top surface 107 as long as the refrigerated display case system 100 is able to move through a restricted height opening (such as an 80 inch tall door).
As noted, movement of the condensing unit 300 occurs while the closed-circuit refrigeration system remains connected, e.g., while the rigid suction line 306 remains connected between the condensing unit 300 and cooling assembly 200. Advantageously, the refrigerant critical charge remains within the closed-circuit refrigeration system while the condensing unit 300 is moved (and while the refrigerated display case system 100 is moved). In some aspects, the connection of the rigid suction line 306 can remain due at least in part on the bends 308 and 310 in the rigid suction line 306 (which, in some aspects, is a rigid copper tubing of sufficient thickness to meet the pressure requirements of the working refrigerant). As shown in
With reference to
Once the condensing unit 300 is moved, e.g., to the shelf 400, the refrigerated display case system 100 can be moved through the restricted height opening while remaining a self-contained unit (e.g., without any further disassembly). When the refrigerated display case system 100 arrives at its final (or operating) location, the condensing unit 300 can be moved back to the top surface 107 and the shelf 400 can be removed. As with the initial movement, movement of the condensing unit 300 to the top surface 107 occurs while the rigid suction line 306 and liquid line 210 remain connected and flex (e.g., bend) sufficiently to allow movement of the condensing unit 300 without breaking. The refrigerated display case system 100 can then be provided with electrical power and operate. Operation of the refrigerated display case system 100 includes operation of the closed-circuit refrigeration system (i.e., the condensing unit 300 and cooling assembly 200) to provide a cooling airflow to the inner volume 104 of the display case 102 to remain at a particular or desired refrigerated (or freezing) temperature.
This example operation can be repeated should the refrigerated display case system 100 need to move from one location to another location while passing through a restricted height opening subsequent to the initial installation.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, example operations, methods, or processes described may include more steps or fewer steps than those described. Further, the steps in such example operations, methods, or processes may be performed in different successions than that described or illustrated in the figures. As another example, various components of a refrigerated display case system according to the present disclosure, such as thermostats or other controls, check valves, shut off valves, or other piping appurtenances are not shown for simplicity. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
